It's even probably more convoluted that what they say in the article.
Their budget probably is set at X amount of dollars. If they don't spend X amount of dollars, they lose their fed dollars or the fed dollars get reduced next fiscal payout. So they show the feds "hey, this is how much we had to dole out so now we get your 43mil for the next round."
Happens in business all the time, which is probably part of how we're in this mess. Gotta spend the budgeted dollars or you won't get as much next time, so everyone spends to get more.
Dizzy yet?
Guess no one thinks that maybe they should save their money so they won't be getting what amounts to tax payers money to pay money to those that don't pay taxes....
Now I have a headache
